AT&T eyes New Castle for tower

NEW CASTLE — Cell phone service for AT&T customers on the Great Island may improve sometime in the near future.

Joey Cresta

NEW CASTLE — Cell phone service for AT&T customers on the Great Island may improve sometime in the near future.

A representative from AT&T gave an informal presentation to the Planning Board on Wednesday night to discuss the company's interest in installing a cell phone tower in New Castle.

Planning Board Chairwoman Darcy Horgan said the conversation involved questions from board members about where the tower would be located and to what extent it would improve cell phone service for New Castle residents.

"They say that there is a gap of service that impacts New Castle," she said. "We're a small town, and given that not everybody will use AT&T's service, how many people are truly impacted was a question."

She did say, however, that she has heard from other town residents who have expressed that cell service is spotty in New Castle.

"I think there probably would be some agreement that there is a gap in AT&T service for users," she said.

Horgan said the board's desire would be for the tower to be installed in the cupola at the congregational church. There is already a T-Mobile tower in the same location.

"We have a strong desire for them to investigate whether they can co-locate in that same site," she said.

Horgan said AT&T will have to get back to the Planning Board once there is more information about the co-location issue. She said there is no time frame for the company to return to the board, but if and when AT&T files a formal application, there would be a public hearing on the proposal.

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